No. 1093: Lower Road, SE16

Before the last forty-five years, the police of London was nothing short of a public disgrace. The scoundrels had everywhere the upper hand – in the streets, in the suburbs, and on the river. The roads leading to and from the metropolis were infested by thieves and footpads. It was unsafe to walk abroad anywhere after nightfall. The thieves were much better organised than the police. There were day thieves and night thieves, and organised hustlers of passengers. Bullock-hunting, duck-hunting, and dog-fighting went on in public thoroughfares by day, and after dark the streets were disgraced by broils and disturbances, making night hideous.